The feast of Tabernacles foreshadows the time of rest and rejoicing that will take place during the first 1000 years of Christ’s reign here on earth (Leviticus 23:35, 40, Isaiah 11:10, Hebrews 4:8-9, Revelation 20:4).

The First Resurrection

All who take part in the first resurrection and survive the Judgment of the Nations will enter into this rest. The Children of the Resurrection will all be raised in the first resurrection, which will consist of the New Testament saints (the Body of Christ—his Church), Old Testament saints, the 144, 000 Jews (who are redeemed from the earth) and the tribulation martyrs (1 Corinthians 15:22-23, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Daniel 12:13, Job 19:25, Hebrews 4:8-9, Revelation 164:1-4, 20:4-6).

The wicked dead will remain in their graves until the first 1000 years of Christ’s reign are finished (Revelation 20:5).

After the judgment of the nations is complete, and all things that offend and do iniquity are removed from the earth, Christ's worldwide government will finally be established (Matthew 13:41-42, Isaiah 9:6).

This government will be like no government this world has ever known. Judges will judge righteously. Justice will be done. Dirty politics where the strong oppress the weak or the rich oppress the poor will be gone forever (Isaiah 32:1[1-5]).

For the first time since the garden, there will be worldwide peace (Isaiah 9:7).

Christ’s resurrected and caught out saints will be administrating this glorious government. But who, exactly, will they be governing?

Mortal Inhabitants of Christ’s Kingdom

The physical survivors of the Judgment of the Nations will enter Christ’s kingdom in their mortal condition. Their bodies will not be gloriously changed like the Children of the Resurrection. One of the scriptural evidences for this includes the fact that survivors of the Judgment of the Nations will marry and bear children. They will reproduce and repopulate the earth (Isaiah 11:8[6-8], 40:11, 65:20-23).

Jesus specifically said the Children of the Resurrection will be as the angels and will not marry in the resurrection (Luke 20:35-36).

The mortal survivors of The Great Tribulation are not the Children of the Resurrection. This is yet another evidence of a pre-tribulational rapture. Those, in Christ, who are alive at the Resurrection Of The Just will be changed and become like Christ, the angels, and the resurrected saints. The Children of the Resurrection will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ—not at the Judgment of the Nations or the White Throne Judgment (1 John 3:2, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Luke 14:14).

Death In Christ’s Kingdom

Christ’s Kingdom will primarily be an agricultural society. The mortal inhabitants of earth, during the first 1000 years of Christ's reign, will farm the land (Isaiah 2:4, 65:21).

Death will not be abolished during this time; it will not be done away with completely, until the first 1000 years are finished, but life spans will be greatly increased, and death will be rare (Revelation 21:4[1-5], Isaiah 65:20,22).

Satan will not be around to instigate evil, and the entire world will be at peace. Peace and safety will be so taken for granted that locks, bars and gates will no longer be used (Ezekiel 38:11, Jeremiah 30:10, Isaiah 32:17-18, Revelation 20:1-3).

Mankind will be given an opportunity to start fresh, in a perfect world, with no devilish temptation to deal with and for 1000 years will live in a society that honors God.

Is Revelation 20 A Symbolic Chapter?

There are those who contend that the 1000 years is not a literal time period but rather representative of an obscure, or unlimited, period of time. The scriptures, however, do not bear that out.

The 1000 years cannot represent an unlimited period of time, as it has both a beginning and an end.

Revelation 20:5 specifically tells us the 1000 years will come to an end—not only that, but the 1000 year time period is mentioned repeatedly in this chapter, and the events that are to take place when the time is expired are clearly outlined.

Revelation Chapter 20 is not a symbolic chapter. Everything in it will happen—literally—just as described.

Corruption of any sort will not be tolerated in Christ’s Kingdom. If anyone sins during this time, they cannot say, "The devil made me do it." Sadly though, even without the influence of Satan, there will be some who will sin during the first 1000 years of Christ’s reign. But sin will be dealt with so swiftly the peaceful society will not be threatened (Isaiah 65:20, Matthew 12:32).

The writer of Hebrews made reference to the wonderful rest that will take place in the Kingdom of Christ—which is the age to come (Hebrews 4:8-9, Matthew 12:32). It is important to note that the word world, used in Matthew 12:32, is more accurately translated age.

Jesus Christ will truly be ushering in a New Age.